Base or pedestal for chairs



March 4, 1952 H. A. PENCHOEN BASE OR PEDESTAL. F' OR CHAIRS Filed Jan.16, 1947 /r// 5 [al A Patented Mar. 4, 1952 2,587,886 4EASE onPEDEs'rALFoR CHA-ms Henry A. Penchoen, Sturgis,` Mich., assignor -to`Harter Corporation, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication 'January 16, 1947, rsiertuin.-'122,435

This invention relates to improvements in bases orpedestals for chairs.

The main objects of this invention are:

lFirst, to provide a chair pedestal or base which may be formed mainlyas an integral stamping `and which .is strong and rigid and isattractive in appearance.

Second, `to provide `a chair pedestal or base which may be economicallyproduced and is very strong and rigid `even when formed of light gaugestock.

`Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention .is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a structure embodying the inventionsectioned on line I-I of Fig. 2, the seat post or spindle beingpartially broken away.

Fig. 2 is an inverted view of the pedestal with the castors omitted,part of the bottom plate being broken away to show structural details.

Fig. 3`is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on line 3 3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 `is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 4-4 of Fign2.

Fig. 5 isa transverse section on line 5-5 of Fig.. 4.

Fig. 6 is a` fragmentary section similar to that of Fig. 3 showing therelation of the .seat Vpost supporting and adjusting nut relative to thespindle socket.

The embodiment of the invention is of a revolving office type of chair.The chair seat post or spindle I is provided with a threaded portion atits lower end to coact with the adjusting and supporting nut I I.

The base or pedestal of my invention consists of a body membercomprising a central hub portion 2 and radial arms 3 formed integrallytherewith preferably as a hollow sheet metal stamping. It might,however, be formed as a casting as the parts are shaped so as to permitthe use of very thin stock, at the Sametime provide strength fandrigidity. The hub portion -is'chambered and the arms are of channelsection.- The side Walls 'I of the arms merge into the side walls of thehub portion. e

o The top' Awalls 6 of the arms merge into the top "1' of the hubportion which in the embodiment illustrated has a cruciform boss 8struck therefrom. the arms of the boss being aligned with the.preferably overlap as Ashown in Fig. li.`

6 claims. (c1. 24a-'194)- arms Yof the base. `This boss adds,materiallygto the `rigidity ofthe top wallof the structure and alsoreinforces the structure as the top wall merges into the arms.

The tcp `and side walls of the arms merge vinto rounded `ends -9. Theserounded ends have lugs I0 struck inwardly therefrom. The side Ywallsiofthe arms have inturnedflanges `II which termi- .nate in spaced relationto `the ends of thearms, `theside and end walls at the ends of the armsextending downwardly at I3 substantially below the flanges, the sideportions of the walls being upturned at I4 to rovide a rounded surfaceand Ia reinforcement. I

Castor socketplates I5 provided `with castor sockets VI6 are disposedwithin the walls of the arms at the ends thereof with their outer endsin positioning engagement with the lugs I0 and their inner ends with theflanges II which they These castor socket plates are welded as indicatedat I2 to the inner sides of the walls Yas best shown in Fig. 5.

` Cap or bumper nose pieces I'I are provided, these serving as bumper orwear plates and also reinforcing the end of the arms. These cap membershave inturned flanges I8 engaging the end walls of the arms, the capsbeing conformed to fit the walls and being further secured by the boltsI9. The 4castor socket plates alsojserve to reinforce the wallsfat theends o f the arms.

The bottom plate `2I)is of general cruciform shape and lfits withintheside wallsl of the hub portion vand is welded thereto as indicated at2 I. This bottom plate serves to reinforce the walls of the base at thecentral or hub portion thereof and it also serves as aisupport memberfor the spindle socket 22.v This spindle socket is formed as a tubedesirably of sheet metal and is arranged through ,the hole 23 in thebottom plate, an aligned hole 24 in the top of the hub portion,- `andthe hole V25 of the spindle socket supporting plate 26.

The Vspindle socket is welded at 21 to the under side of vthe plate 26:and the plate 26 is welded as indicated at 28` to the top of the hubportion. The spindle socket plate has a central upset portion toaccommodate the weld 21 and it also serves as a finish member.`

The wall of the spindle socket isupset axially to provide an `annularbead 30 which rests on the socket plate. The spindle socket is providedwith a flange 3l serving fas abearing for the adjusting nut IOI. ThisAprovides a very strong and rigid structure and at the same time onewhich is highly attractive in appearance.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a very practicalcommercial embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe certain modifications and adaptations, as it is believed thatthis disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adaptthe invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new andy desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination in a chair pedestal or base, of a body membercomprising a central chambered hub portion and radial arms formedintegrally therewith as a hollow stamping, the arms. being of downwardlyfacing channel section, the sides and top thereof merging with the sidesand top of the hub portion, the sides of the armsV merging into roundedclosed ends, the sides of the arms having inturned bottom flangesterminating in spaced relation to the ends of the arms, the sides beyondsuch flanges extending below the flanges with the bottom edges thereofturned inwardly and upwardly against the sides, castor socket/platesdisposed within the ends of the arms and welded to the walls thereof, acruciform bottom plate fitting within the side walls of the hub portionand welded thereto, the top wall of the hub portion having a cruciformboss struck up therefrom with the arms thereof aligned with the arms ofthe body member, a spindle socket plate disposed on and welded to saidboss and having a centra-l upset portion, Ysaid socket supporting plate,the top of said hub portion and said bottom Y plate having alignedopenings therein, Vand a of the arms having inturned -bottomangesteminating in spaced relation'to the ends of the arms, thesides'beyond such flanges extending below the flanges with the bottomedges thereof.; turned inwardly and upwardly against the sides',

castor socket plates disposed within the endsfof the arms with theirouter ends positioned against the under sides of said inturned lugs andtheir inner ends overlapping said side wall flanges, said plates beingwelded to the side walls and to said flanges, and arm caps embracing theends ofthe larms, the front edges of said caps being turned inwardly andupwardly to engage the edges of the ends of the arms, the inner ends ofthe caps being secured to the tops of the arms.

3. The combination in a chair pedestal or base.` of a body membercomprising a central chambered hub portion and radial arms formedintegrally. therewith, the arms being of downwardly facing channelsection, the sides and top thereof merging with the sides and top of thehub portion, the sides of the arms merging into closed ends,

the arms and welded to the walls thereof, and arm' caps embracing theends of the arms, said ends of the arms providing flanges integraltherewith and projecting below said castorY socket plates, the frontedges of said caps being turned inwardly and upwardly to engage aroundthe castor socket plates disposed within the ends of Y lower edges ofsaid flanges at the ends of the arms, the inner ends of the caps beingsecured to the tops of the arms.

4. The combination in a chair pedestal or base, of a stamped body membercomprising a central chambered hub portion and radial arms formedintegrally therewith, the arms being of downwardly facing channelsection, the sides and top thereof merging with the sides and top of thehub portion, the sides of the arms merging into closed ends, the ends ofthe arms having inturned lugs spaced from the bottom edges thereof, thesides of the arms having inturned bottom flanges terminating in spacedrelation to the ends of the arms, the sides beyond such flangesextending below the flanges with the bottom edges thereof turnedinwardly and upwardly against the sides, and castor socket platesdisposed within the ends of the arms with their outer ends positionedagainst the under sides of said inturned lugs and their inner endsoverlapping said side' wall flanges, said lugs above the castor platesconstituting means to transmit the Weight ofthe pedestal to said" castorplates, said plates being s welded to the side walls and to saidflanges.

5. The combination in a chair pedestal or base, of a body membercomprising a central chambered hub portion and radial arms formedintegrally therewith as a hollow stamping, the arms being of downwardlyfacing channel section, the sides and top thereof merging with the sidesand top of the hub portion, the sides of the' arms merging into roundedclosed ends, a cruciform bottom plate fitting within the side walls ofthe hub portion and Welded thereto, the top wall of the hub portionhaving a boss struck uptherefrom with the arms thereof aligned with thearms of the body member, a spindle socket plate disposed on and Weldedto said boss and having a central upset portion, said socket supportingplate, the top of said hub portion and said bottom plate having alignedopenings therein, and a s tubular spindle socket disposed through saidopenings and welded to said socket supporting plate and bottom plate. f

6. The combination in a chair pedestal or base, of a-v body membercomprising a central chambered hub portion and radial arms of downwardlyfacing channel section formed integrally therewith, the sides and topsof the arms merging with the sides and top of the hub portion, the sidesof the arms merging into end walls having inturned lugs strucktherefrom, the sides of the arms having inturned bottom anges, andcastor socket plates disposed in suporting engagement with said lugs,the side Walls of the arms extending substantially below said castorsocket plates and being folded inwardly. Y*

HENRY A. PENCHOEN. y

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number Name Date 1,810,817 Brainard et al. June16, 1931 2,021,187 Lafferty Nov. 19, 1935 2,172,019 Brainard Sept. 5,1939 2,217,754 Johnson Oct. 15, 1940 2,256,677 Jones Sept. 23, 19412,350,399 Jones June 6,- 1944

